BREAKING NEWS: Paul Yallop resigns as Worthing Borough Council leader

The Conservative leader is stepping down after five and a half years in post to take up a new job outside the council.

A new leader is expected to be elected next week.

In a statement, he said: “Having recently been offered employment outside of the Council I have concluded that, after five and a half years in post, now is the time for me to stand aside and allow a colleague the opportunity to lead the Worthing Borough Council Conservative Group.

“Serving as Council Leader has been a great honour and something that I will always be proud to look back on. I hope history will show my work has been a positive part of Worthing’s progress.

“I have always believed that the role of Council Leader requires my full attention and now I can no longer offer that commitment it is best for Worthing that I stand down.”

Mr Yallop, a councillor in Marine ward, will still serve as a councillor following his resignation.

“I am indebted to the public for electing me to the Council and to my colleagues for electing me as Leader. I

“I am also grateful to my wife and children for their support and for allowing me the time to fulfil such an important role.

“Finally I would like to acknowledge the work of my colleague from Adur District Council, Cllr Neil Parkin, with whom I have very much relished pushing forward the ground breaking partnership our respective Councils have led the way on.”

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, out Thursday, January 8.